A Utah man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Monday night after he allegedly stabbed a man at the Weott overpass on Highway 101.

Clayton Winfield Hamilton, 29, of Orem, Utah, said to Humboldt County Sheriff's Office deputies that he stabbed a 46-year-old male transient from the Redding area three or four times with a knife in self-defense, according to a sheriff's office press release.

At about 8:30 p.m. Monday, deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and medical personnel responded to the scene, and found the victim in the middle of Highway 101 on the Weott overpass. Several citizens were attempting to help the victim, including one who was applying pressure to the victim's chest wound.

When deputies interviewed a 30-year-old male friend of the suspect who was at the scene, the Rio Dell resident said he hadn't seen or heard from Hamilton in five years, but that Hamilton had called him from Utah last Thursday and said he had a business opportunity, and was on his way to the area to meet him, the release said.

On Monday, Hamilton arrived in Rio Dell and the friend saw him speaking with the male victim, who was hitchhiking to Garberville and wanted a ride, in front of the Shell Gas station in Rio Dell, the release said.

The three met, and decided to have lunch at the McDonald's in Fortuna. At lunch, Hamilton told the victim he wanted to talk with the friend alone so the victim walked off. Hamilton told the friend the victim was evil and he needed to kill him. Hamilton then left the friend saying he was going to find the victim, according to the release.

The friend, who began to worry Hamilton was serious, went looking for Hamilton. The friend saw Hamilton's vehicle heading southbound on Highway 101 as he was traveling northbound, the release said.

The friend pursued Hamilton, and caught up with him at Sewell Drive and Spring Street in Weott. Hamilton's truck stopped, and the friend approached the truck. The friend then witnessed a struggle in the truck. He opened Hamilton's truck door, saw Hamilton had a knife in his hands, and saw blood all over the interior of the truck, the release said.

The victim grabbed Hamilton, and began to pull him from the vehicle; this allowed the victim to escape. The friend then called 911, according to the release.

Deputies interviewed the victim at a local hospital where he was being treated for multiple life-threatening stab wounds, including one to the chest and one to the abdomen, according to the release.

During the interview, the victim shared a similar story, but added that he was originally picked up hitchhiking by Hamilton in Redding, and told Hamilton he wanted a ride to Garberville. The victim said Hamilton stopped in Rio Dell to meet up with a friend, according to the release.

The victim also told deputies during the drive to Garberville, he and Hamilton had a discussion about religion before Hamilton suddenly pulled off to the side of the road in Weott, told the victim he had to kill him, brandished a large knife and began stabbing the victim repeatedly, the release said.

Hamilton was detained and treated at the scene for a laceration to his hand that required stitches before being arrested and booked into the Humboldt County jail. His bail is set at $500,000.

The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity to call the sheriff's office at 445-7251 or the sheriff's office crime tip line at 268-2539.